1993 Scottish Challenge Cup final

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1993 Scottish Challenge Cup final
Event 1993–94 Scottish Challenge Cup
Date12 December 1993
Venue Fir Park, Motherwell
Referee Douglas Hope (Erskine) [1]
Attendance13,763 [2]
1992
1994

The 1993 Scottish Challenge Cup final, also known as the B&Q Cup final for sponsorship reasons, was an association football match between Falkirk and St Mirren on 12 December 1993 at Fir Park in Motherwell. [3] It was the fourth final of the Scottish Challenge Cup since it was first organised in 1990 to celebrate the centenary of the Scottish Football League.

Contents

The match was Falkirk's first national cup final in 36 years since winning the Scottish Cup in 1957; whilst it was St Mirren's first in only six years since lifting the Scottish Cup in 1987. The tournament was contested by clubs below the Scottish Premier Division, with both finalists from the First Division.

The match was goalless after 45 minutes, but Falkirk took the lead two minutes into the second half with a goal from Neil Duffy and only one minute later were 2–0 up with a goal from Richard Cadette. The final goal of the game came from John Hughes, which was enough for Falkirk to win the match 3–0 and the tournament for the first time. [2]

Route to the final

Falkirk

Round Opposition Score
First round Alloa Athletic (h) 2–1
Second round Cowdenbeath (h) 3–0
Quarter-final Dunfermline Athletic (h) 4–1
Semi-final Livingston (h) 3–2

Falkirk faced neighbours Alloa Athletic at home in the first round with the home team producing a 2–1 victory. [4] The second round draw saw Cowdenbeath travel to Brockville Park, in another home game for Falkirk with the team winning 3–0 [4] to progress to the quarter-final. The reward for reaching the quarter-final was a third home game of the tournament against rivals Dunfermline Athletic with The Bairns emerging 4–1 winners. [4] The semi-final opposition was Livingston, and a fourth consecutive home game at Brockville with Falkirk winning 3–2 [4] to book a place in the Scottish Challenge Cup final for the first time. [4]

St Mirren

Round Opposition Score
First round Clyde (a) 1–0
Second round Morton (a) 4–2
Quarter-final Airdrieonians (a) 1–0
Semi-final Ayr United (a) 2–1

St Mirren faced a trip to Clyde in the first round which saw the team emerge 1–0 winners. [4] The second round was another game on the road against Renfrewshire rivals Morton with The Saints producing a 4–2 victory [4] to progress to the quarter-finals. A third away game of the tournament saw St Mirren travel to Airdrieonians, winning 1–0. [4] The reward for reaching the semi-final was another away game with the opponents in the form of Ayr United at Somerset Park. St Mirren won 2–1 [4] to book a place in the final. St Mirren reached the Scottish Challenge Cup final for the first time. [4]

Pre-match

Analysis

Falkirk played all of their games preceding the final at their home of Brockville Park, in the process scoring twelve goals and conceding four. On the other hand, St Mirren played all four of their games on the road with no matches played at their home of Love Street. Despite playing all of their games away from home, St Mirren scored eight goals and conceded only three, whilst keeping two clean sheets compared with Falkirk's one. This was the first appearance for both Falkirk and St Mirren in the Scottish Challenge Cup final since its inauguration in 1990. [4]

Match

Falkirk 3–0 St Mirren
Duffy Soccerball shade.svg47'
Cadette Soccerball shade.svg48'
Hughes Soccerball shade.svg65'
Report
Fir Park, Motherwell
Attendance: 13,763
Referee: Douglas Hope (Erskine)

Teams

Falkirk:
GK  Flag of England.svg Tony Parks
DF  Flag of Scotland.svg Joe McLaughlin
DF  Flag of Scotland.svg John Hughes
DF  Flag of Scotland.svg David Weir
DF  Flag of Scotland.svg Tommy McQueen
MF  Flag of Scotland.svg Eddie May
MF  Flag of Scotland.svg Ian McCall Sub off.svg 78'
MF  Flag of Scotland.svg Brian Rice
MF  Flag of Scotland.svg Neil Duffy
FW  Flag of England.svg Kevin Drinkell Sub off.svg 78'
FW  Flag of England.svg Richard Cadette
Substitutes:
GK  Flag of England.svg Ian Westwater
DF  Flag of England.svg Neil Oliver Sub on.svg 78'
FW  Flag of Scotland.svg Greg Shaw Sub on.svg 78'
Manager:
Flag of Scotland.svg Jim Jefferies
St Mirren:
GK  Flag of Scotland.svg Campbell Money
DF  Flag of Scotland.svg Robert Dawson
DF  Flag of Scotland.svg Martin Baker
DF  Flag of Scotland.svg Norrie McWhirter
DF  Flag of Scotland.svg Barry McLaughlin
MF  Flag of Scotland.svg Neil Orr
MF  Flag of Scotland.svg Alex Bone Sub off.svg 55'
MF  Flag of Scotland.svg Jim Dick
MF  Flag of Scotland.svg Barry Lavety
FW  Flag of Scotland.svg David Elliot
FW  Flag of Scotland.svg John Hewitt Sub off.svg 87'
Substitutes:
GK  Flag of Scotland.svg Alan Combe
DF  Flag of Scotland.svg Paul McIntyre Sub on.svg 87'
FW  Flag of Scotland.svg Ricky Gillies Sub on.svg 55'
Manager:
Flag of Scotland.svg Jimmy Bone

Match rules

  • 90 minutes.
  • 30 minutes of extra-time if necessary.
  • Penalty shoot-out if scores still level.

References

  1. McKinney, David (13 December 1993). "Football: Falkirk find their fire". The Independent. London. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
  2. 1 2 Bell's Cup, scottishfootballleague.com. Scottish Football League. 2 November 2005. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
  3. "Scottish League Challenge Cup Finals". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation . Retrieved 1 April 2010.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Scottish Challenge Cup, statto.com. Retrieved 2011-06-16.